Koban were unearthed during the reconstruction of Ginza Komatsu.<\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I hear that you are passionately involved in helping Ginza develop in many ways. What are your activities?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- I\u2019m Chairman of the Ginza Street Association, Executive Director of the Ginza Association and Chairman of the Ginza Machidukuri Council . Of course, these are voluntary responsibilities besides my main business activities.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- You have assumed a lot of responsibilities. By the way, how long have you been in your main business in Ginza?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- Since 1971. My great-grandfather was already in Ginza, and my honseki (legal domicile) is registered in Ginza, which is actually a bit unusual.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- It\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve heard about a honseki in Ginza. The Komatsu Store has long been an iconic spot in Ginza, but you\u2019re currently rebuilding. When will the new building be completed?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- We began construction at the end of 2010 and are scheduled to reopen next spring. We\u2019d like the building to contribute to Ginza.
When we previously rebuilt the store in 1956, koban (oval Japanese gold coins) were unearthed. There were a total of 208 coins from the Keicho and Kyoho eras, which is a lot to find. Nothing turned up this time (laughs).<\/dd>\n - Takashima<\/dt>\n
- So they turned up while digging. What happened to the coins?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- We didn\u2019t get to keep them. But it was a big lucky news at the time, and we were just happy that it was good advertising for us. The coins are currently kept at the National Museum as \u201cburied cultural properties.\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_01_01.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nOn writing folk songs as a student.<\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- You must be quite busy, but what do you like to do on your days off?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- I play golf to get exercise, and tend to finish up any remaining work from the week. I used to play golf quite seriously when I was young. But now that I\u2019m involved in three additional roles besides my original work, I really don\u2019t have much time to play anymore.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- That just shows how much you are thinking about Ginza. I was told that you played in a band when you were a student. What kind of music did you play?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- Folk songs. In the \u201860s, many college students formed a band and played live at various venues. There were no music scores at the time, so we would listen to records to pick up on how they were playing.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Did you write your own melodies and lyrics?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- I did. It was a popular thing to do. I would make a song, then play it on the guitar.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I\u2019d love to hear what you wrote. You should think about bringing the band together and playing in Ginza.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n
![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_01_02.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_01_03.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\nEnjoyable events on the beautiful streets, in a way unique to Ginza.<\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Even though Ginza is in the center of a huge metropolis, there are unexpectedly interesting facts\uff0dlike people keeping bees, absence of the guardrails that are seen everywhere else, etc. Are there any other interesting charms you could point out?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- Well, one thing is that Ginza streets are safe and clean. And it\u2019s thanks to the efforts by many locals. For your reference, we conduct cleaning patrols three times a day, environmental safety activities every month, \u201cGinza Earthquake Drills\u201d to be prepared for earthquakes and mass cleaning drives on Ginza- and Harumi-dori twice a year.
We also established a rule that buildings can go no higher than 56 meters in order to protect the beautiful Ginza landscape. Moreover, the designs of any new buildings and advertisements must be approved locally. This level of community involvement is rather unusual.<\/dd>\n - Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Do you have any matsuri festivals?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- The Ginza Association organizes \u201cAutumn Ginza\u201d at the end of October every year, although it\u2019s not a traditional Japanese festival with portable shrines and the like. Ginchakai tea ceremonies are performed on the streets, and we\u2019ll launch \u201cRestaurant Week\u201d for the first time this year.
There are also quite a few Shinto shrines in unexpected locations around Ginza, so we hold \u201cthe Ginza 8-cho Shrines Stamp Rally\u201d as well.<\/dd>\n - Takashima<\/dt>\n
- [Some of those shrines] are on building rooftops and in small alleys, aren\u2019t they?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- That\u2019s right. And the Ginza Street Association has an international brands committee named GILC(the Ginza International Luxury Committee). GILC was organized by international luxury brands shops in Ginza to hold various activities and events that will contribute to sustaining Ginza into the future. They say that there is no other place where international luxury brands work together to create such events. GILC has also organized annual the Ginza Jazz Festival. This year, however, they will change tack and hold a Christmas event sponsored by the Chuo City in order to support the recovery and reconstruction efforts after March\u2019s Great East Japan Earthquake.
The theme of this event is Wings of Hope. Large wings decorated with pictures drawn by children from disaster areas will be put up on Ginza- and Harumi-dori from November 25.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_01_04.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nGinza with residents, just like Paris and New York.<\/h4>\n\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- What is Ginza about to you?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- In short, Ginza to me is about three things<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- What kind of town do you want see Ginza become?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- A lot of people used to actually live in Ginza. You could smell the saury broiling and other smells of daily life. There was a very down-to-earth and refined feeling to the place. Nowadays in Japan, it is typical that goods are sold on the lower floors and restaurants operate on the upper floors of buildings. But look at New York and Paris. The stores are on the ground floors and people live on the floors above.
On top of that, there are many small offices in Ginza, and the people working there are very important. According to my personal opinion, it would be interesting to revive the environment in Ginza where people can live\u2014that is, to return to a mixed community of stores, offices and living space. To make the vision come true, we would need to explore what Ginza-style of living and working should be.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_01_05.jpg\")
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe next guest will be\u2026<\/h4>\n\n- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Could you tell us about the next guest?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- It\u2019s Yasuharu Mizuhara, Representative Director and President of Seigetsudo Honten. Seigetsudo is a traditional Japanese sweets store established in Ginza in 1907.
\nYou should look forward to hearing what he has to say.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/Connect_01_06.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\nChisako Takashima<\/h4>\n
Violinist. Began lessons at age six. After an active career overseas, she moved her base back to Japan to perform around the country.
\nIn addition, she has become a popular personality and branched out in the field of television and radio programs.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I hear that you are passionately involved in helping Ginza develop in many ways. What are your activities?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- I\u2019m Chairman of the Ginza Street Association, Executive Director of the Ginza Association and Chairman of the Ginza Machidukuri Council . Of course, these are voluntary responsibilities besides my main business activities.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- You have assumed a lot of responsibilities. By the way, how long have you been in your main business in Ginza?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- Since 1971. My great-grandfather was already in Ginza, and my honseki (legal domicile) is registered in Ginza, which is actually a bit unusual.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- It\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve heard about a honseki in Ginza. The Komatsu Store has long been an iconic spot in Ginza, but you\u2019re currently rebuilding. When will the new building be completed?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- We began construction at the end of 2010 and are scheduled to reopen next spring. We\u2019d like the building to contribute to Ginza.
When we previously rebuilt the store in 1956, koban (oval Japanese gold coins) were unearthed. There were a total of 208 coins from the Keicho and Kyoho eras, which is a lot to find. Nothing turned up this time (laughs).<\/dd>\n - Takashima<\/dt>\n
- So they turned up while digging. What happened to the coins?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- We didn\u2019t get to keep them. But it was a big lucky news at the time, and we were just happy that it was good advertising for us. The coins are currently kept at the National Museum as \u201cburied cultural properties.\u201d<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
On writing folk songs as a student.<\/h4>\n
\n- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- You must be quite busy, but what do you like to do on your days off?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- I play golf to get exercise, and tend to finish up any remaining work from the week. I used to play golf quite seriously when I was young. But now that I\u2019m involved in three additional roles besides my original work, I really don\u2019t have much time to play anymore.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- That just shows how much you are thinking about Ginza. I was told that you played in a band when you were a student. What kind of music did you play?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- Folk songs. In the \u201860s, many college students formed a band and played live at various venues. There were no music scores at the time, so we would listen to records to pick up on how they were playing.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Did you write your own melodies and lyrics?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- I did. It was a popular thing to do. I would make a song, then play it on the guitar.<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- I\u2019d love to hear what you wrote. You should think about bringing the band together and playing in Ginza.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\nEnjoyable events on the beautiful streets, in a way unique to Ginza.<\/h4>\n
\n- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Even though Ginza is in the center of a huge metropolis, there are unexpectedly interesting facts\uff0dlike people keeping bees, absence of the guardrails that are seen everywhere else, etc. Are there any other interesting charms you could point out?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- Well, one thing is that Ginza streets are safe and clean. And it\u2019s thanks to the efforts by many locals. For your reference, we conduct cleaning patrols three times a day, environmental safety activities every month, \u201cGinza Earthquake Drills\u201d to be prepared for earthquakes and mass cleaning drives on Ginza- and Harumi-dori twice a year.
We also established a rule that buildings can go no higher than 56 meters in order to protect the beautiful Ginza landscape. Moreover, the designs of any new buildings and advertisements must be approved locally. This level of community involvement is rather unusual.<\/dd>\n - Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Do you have any matsuri festivals?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- The Ginza Association organizes \u201cAutumn Ginza\u201d at the end of October every year, although it\u2019s not a traditional Japanese festival with portable shrines and the like. Ginchakai tea ceremonies are performed on the streets, and we\u2019ll launch \u201cRestaurant Week\u201d for the first time this year.
There are also quite a few Shinto shrines in unexpected locations around Ginza, so we hold \u201cthe Ginza 8-cho Shrines Stamp Rally\u201d as well.<\/dd>\n - Takashima<\/dt>\n
- [Some of those shrines] are on building rooftops and in small alleys, aren\u2019t they?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- That\u2019s right. And the Ginza Street Association has an international brands committee named GILC(the Ginza International Luxury Committee). GILC was organized by international luxury brands shops in Ginza to hold various activities and events that will contribute to sustaining Ginza into the future. They say that there is no other place where international luxury brands work together to create such events. GILC has also organized annual the Ginza Jazz Festival. This year, however, they will change tack and hold a Christmas event sponsored by the Chuo City in order to support the recovery and reconstruction efforts after March\u2019s Great East Japan Earthquake.
The theme of this event is Wings of Hope. Large wings decorated with pictures drawn by children from disaster areas will be put up on Ginza- and Harumi-dori from November 25.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nGinza with residents, just like Paris and New York.<\/h4>\n
\n- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- What is Ginza about to you?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- In short, Ginza to me is about three things<\/dd>\n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- What kind of town do you want see Ginza become?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- A lot of people used to actually live in Ginza. You could smell the saury broiling and other smells of daily life. There was a very down-to-earth and refined feeling to the place. Nowadays in Japan, it is typical that goods are sold on the lower floors and restaurants operate on the upper floors of buildings. But look at New York and Paris. The stores are on the ground floors and people live on the floors above.
On top of that, there are many small offices in Ginza, and the people working there are very important. According to my personal opinion, it would be interesting to revive the environment in Ginza where people can live\u2014that is, to return to a mixed community of stores, offices and living space. To make the vision come true, we would need to explore what Ginza-style of living and working should be.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nThe next guest will be\u2026<\/h4>\n
- \n
- Takashima<\/dt>\n
- Could you tell us about the next guest?<\/dd>\n
- Kosaka<\/dt>\n
- It\u2019s Yasuharu Mizuhara, Representative Director and President of Seigetsudo Honten. Seigetsudo is a traditional Japanese sweets store established in Ginza in 1907.
\nYou should look forward to hearing what he has to say.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/p>\n\nChisako Takashima<\/h4>\n
Violinist. Began lessons at age six. After an active career overseas, she moved her base back to Japan to perform around the country.
\nIn addition, she has become a popular personality and branched out in the field of television and radio programs.<\/p>\n